Your Resume is NOT About You

A resume is not about you. It is about how you can solve that particular company’s particular problem.

No company hires unless they have a problem or situation that they can’t fix with the people they are already paying. It may be that they need someone to duplicate what is being done because they have run out of time, or it may be that they need someone with a different skills set.

Resumes get about 6 seconds of “eyeball” time. Next time you are watching a commercial on TV or at the movies count to 6. What did you learn about the product? Does it “speak” to you? YOU get those 6 seconds to convince the resume reviewer (who may NOT be the hiring manager) that you have what they need.

If it is a new position or even a replacement, then the company has a situation/problem that needs more than just “butt in the seat” or even “hands at the bench”. What problem is it? Can you solve it? Do you want to?

We all have dealt with problems that we hope never to see again.

If this company has that problem, it probably is not a good fit for you. Why waste your time trying to get the job? If you can see that it is not a fit, what makes you think that the hiring manager won’t see it? And if you were to get this job, how long will you and the manager be happy?

How can you format your resume so that the things you know the company needs, that you know that you can do, that you know that you want to do, stand out on the top half of the first page of your resume? Everything after that (“below the fold”) is simply proof that you can do those things.

The company is not interested in your career objectives. They don’t care. They just want to know that you can do the job that they need to have done. And they want to know that you have done these things in the last decade.

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“A job, any job” will not usually take you toward your goal, even as it puts food on the table. And remember that companies don’t hire for your sparkling personality (or your desperation) but because they have a problem they need someone to solve. What problems do you want to solve?

Most jobs are filled by personal networking. But if you want a recruiter to call you, we have to know that you exist. Make it easy for us – Fill out your LinkedIn Profile! Recruiters are on LinkedIn every day. Even if you are not now looking for a job, keep your profile current. Since most jobs last only about 5 years these days, having a LinkedIn profile is essential.